I have played with OCTARIUM at the last High Holy days and they are a wonderful Vocal group with a great conductor.
As a trained musican and a member of B'nai Juhdah's former choir, I always enjoy, not only listtening to the Octarium choir, but also singing along with them at our High Holiday services. Our services are greatly enhanced by Octarium's participation during these services.
This cantorial group adds a sense of beauty to the dignity of the High Holiday Services and should be commended for thier efforts.
Octarium sings for us at Congregation B'nai Jehudah for our High Holiday services. Their enhancement of the spiritual experince is ethereal, moving and brings deeper meaning to the occasions for me. From the first time they graced our gatherings, I felt I stepped into a fresh, open, sacred place. I marvelled at their ability to so faithfully render Hebrew even though they had not previously studied it (I assume). Thank you Octarium. You make our High Holidays more wonderful and meaningful.
My pesonal high holiday experience is always enhanced by virtue of the music and its specific arrangement. This particular time in the year is devoted to reflection and I find no better way to reflect than accomopanied by music.
This group has been playing the role of spiritual musical accompamists at out sysagogues High Holiday Services for 5 or 6 years now. Theyappear as professional musicians both in performance and demeanor. the sounds are angelic, harmonic, and appropriately match the tone of the litergy in each segment of the music. THe music sets the tone of the prayers and they capture it all quite well.
Octarium voices combine to sound like an orchesstral group. You can hear the joy in their performances. They make their performances sound like special occasions.
Octarium has been an integral part of our High Holiday services at Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Overland Park, KS. They have helped to transport me to another plane on those very special and holy days. They help transmit the gravity of the day.
Octarium have sung at our High Holiday Service along with our cantor for as long as I can remember and their beautiful voices truly enhance our services.
I have performed as a musician with Octarium and also heard them at one of their concerts. I am amazed and transfixed by the power and beauty of their singing. With only a few rehearsals, they perform flawlessly for the High Holy Days at my temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah. I also had the privilege of conversing with them, and they are all kind and gracious.
It's not every day that my family and I choose to sit towards the front at services. When Octarium is there - we try to sit as close as possible. Their voices are beautiful and their showmanship connects us to both the music and the spiritual nature of why we're there.
Even with "substitute" singers Octarium is better than your average choral ensemble. Only Krista Blackwood would think that minor misses could mar the performance of Kansas City's best eight member (or almost any number of members) a capella group. The rest of us didn't notice - too enthralled by the music.
They sang everyone's favorites, and the crowd was duly pleased. Actually, since everyone got to pick their favorites for the program (Listeners' Choice), this was more or less inevitable. Nontheless, I'm sure there were many who came away with new favorites as Octarium did their usual superb job of lending intimacy, good humor and class to a wide variety of music from many genres.
The venue, St Elizabeth's in KCMO, is also one of my local favorites for vocal performances providing just the right mix of depth and resonance to everything from a three-voice chant to a triumphant chorus.
You should go and listen.
Our congregation has had the great fortune to have Octarium as our holiday choir singing alongside our cantor for as many years as I can remember. Octarium's voices elevate the beauty of our holy days and help create moments of both solemness and joy. I am sure that their work in other settings is equally as beautiful as their participation in our holiday services. My hope is that they will continue to be able to share their music with our congregation, the Kansas City community and beyond for years to come.
When the Octaruim sing on the High Holy days, it sounds so angelic almost as if the angels themselves are singing with them.
I have had the extrodinary pleasure for eight years of being in the pews as Octarian has added their voices to enrich a worship experience. I have had the opportunity to travel fairly extensively and to see and experience others in the role that Octarian has been filling. I can without hesitation tell everyone that what Octarian provides is without exception an extrodinary experience. We would be far poorer without Octarian's participation.
Each year, Octarium provides a rich and beautiful backdrop for our most important holidays of the year. Our synagogue is fortunate to have this very professional group located in our city. They create a full-bodied sound that helps set the tone for our entire service. Additionally, they are always a pleasure to watch. Their director exhibits true poise and grace in her leadership of this group. This is a very unique group!
